Bertrand Cuiller - Byrd: Pescodd Time '2006

Tracks list

Tracklist

01. Fantasia, MB 46
02. The Queens Alman
03. In Nomine, MB 9
04. Pavan, MB 16a
05. Galiard, MB 16b
06. Three French Corantos
07. Pavana Dolorosa
08. Galiarda Dolorosa
09. Ground, MB 9
10. Pescodd Time / The Hunts Up
11. Lady Monteagles Pavan
12. Fantasia, MB 62
13. The Kings Hunt
14. Pavan, MB 23a



This recording has been reissued in the Essential Baroque Masterpieces
collection with an exclusive interview of Bertrand Cuiller: 

With this programme of English music of the sixteenth and early seventeenth
centuries, I realised what is every musician’s dream: to record and share
with others a repertory very close to my heart. It was in 2005, and it was my
very fi rst disc. The choice of what I was going to record was even more
important than usual. It seemed to me that this was the music that I was most
ready to present to the public, and that would represent me best – since,
for a young performer, a disc is also a visiting card.

I discovered the music of the English virginalists at the age of fi fteen, when
I heard a concert by Pierre Hantaï on the radio. It was a revelation. I had
no idea a musical world like that even existed. I immediately went to play some
of these pieces to Pierre Hantaï himself. That was my fi rst approach to this
repertory on the keyboard. Then the process of familiarisation with it –
like the progress of a relationship that gradually becomes more intimate
– took place over ten years or so, until 2004, when I began a long period
of preparation for this recording. The King’s Hunt and the In Nomine by
Bull, The Queen’s Alman by Byrd and the Dolorosa of Philips –
which you might describe as constant companions of mine – formed the
basis of the programme. Then I played my way through the entire output of Byrd
and Bull so as to build the rest of it around them. I absolutely wanted to
record on the Martin Skowroneck virginal belonging to Skip Sempé. I was also
lucky that Philippe Humeau had just fi nished his Ruckers double transposing
harpsichord, a magnifi cent and rare instrument, which guided some of my
choices. The English repertory is very extensive. It was a true pleasure to have
to select pieces from so many marvels.

I decided on the title Pescodd Time after the recording was fi nished. It was
the ideal title for this album: it speaks of time – ‘the
pea-gathering season’ in Elizabethan English – and it encapsulates
the poetry and mystery of the Virginalists.

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